Are you looking for an excellent gift to give to the photographer in your friends circle or family? Or perhaps you want to say thank you to the person who captured one of the most important moments in your life?

Photographers make memories, so of course you want to come up with an idea for a memorable gift. But more often than not photographers already have all the gear they need, so you may be wondering what’s left to be gifted!

Well, worry not! We’ve done extensive research to find out what photographers like best, and with the help of some expert camera operators, we came up with this excellent gift list.

7 Cool Gift Ideas For Photographers

1. Camera Lens Cup

If you’re on a tight budget, you can take advantage of this extremely cool gift. Many photographers are often on the go. And a nice cup of coffee is their best friend.

A lens cup pays tribute to their profession while allowing them to enjoy something tasty while out on the field or in the studio. And with most doubling as a thermos, it’s a really practical gift, being able to keep liquids hot or cold when out on a long assignment.

Pro tip: Photographers are often very loyal to their favorite brand, so try to find out which camera model (Nikon or Canon), they prefer, and buy the cup that matches.

3. Spider Holster

Does your friend like cool stuff and want to feel comfortable while taking photos? They might enjoy a spider holster!

This is a wonderful fit for the majority of professional cameras, though not a lot of photographers think to buy one.

It doesn’t interfere with the shooting process and means the photographer doesn’ty have to worry about the safety of the camera.

The holster is held by the quick-release belt, making this gift truly convenient. The camera is well secured inside the holster to give the photographer maximum freedom of movement. This is a very practical and cool gift!

4. Nat Geo Magazine Subscription

We bet your photographer doesn’t have one. Meanwhile, National Geographic Magazine features photos made by the best photographers on the planet, making it a grand source of inspiration.

The subscription is one of those gifts a person is unlikely to purchase on his or her own but will be very glad to get.

The great thing about this gift being that you can search for a topic or destination and instantly have access to all Nat Geo stories published on your computer.

5. Camera Cleaning Kit

Camera cleaning requires a special approach and many different accessories.

Newbie photographers often overlook the need to keep their equipment clean. As a result, they have to re-take many photos botched by the dirty lens or slippery camera.

Lens cleaning tools, an air blower for delicate parts, bottle sprays for different cleaning solutions, and more can help your friend take good care of the camera at home or on the road. Consider buying a compact kit so the photographer can take it to an outdoor session.

6. Phone Case

If you’re struggling for a gift because they have everything for their camera, think about buying a case for their phone.

Smart phone photography is a growing trend among photographers nowadays, especially among those who focus on macro photography, or influencers who publish their images live.

In fact, a recent National Geographic photographer was sent out to shoot the cover image on an iPhone.

But when you’re out in the field and photographing different environments it’s important to a solid phone case. For something beautiful but also durable go with leather. You can get a phone case handmade from Galen Leather.

7. Portable Printer

A portable photo printer is a cool gadget which a photographer can take anywhere. While professional photos require a high-quality printer, this device can be irreplaceable at parties, airplanes or safaris.

The photographer can share printed photos with friends, passersby or anyone else by clicking a button.

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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 50+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.

25 Comments

Absolutely, personally I like the harddrive with the complete archives better, but I think there’s a lost magic to receiving magazines you can actually flip through. Definitely re putting in the research as to whether it’s something they would appreciate though :)

I know it spoils the surprise, but most photographers do already have a lot of their essential gear, or they have brands they don’t like, so if you’re thinking of gifting something expensive I would probably say it’s safer to ask them what they want or need. Otherwise if all else fails, I don’t know a single photographer who hasn’t always needed more SD cards. Not as flashy as other gifts, but very practical and saves them money.

Love! I had no idea you could get an archived version of National Geographic on a harddrive, that’s a great idea! Much better than the actual subscription, though I do think I have stacks of dusty copies in the basement somewhere. As much as I love flipping through real pages, sadly magazines don’t have the same lasting power as digital information does.

So many cool ideas here, I think often the simplest and most practical gifts are the most well received, something like a world wide travel adaptor is a great gift if the person travels a lot, obviously you need to charge equipment and batteries all the time. The cleaning kit is a good suggestion. Great ideas here.